Carter Capner, the law firm representing the majority of Dr Patel’s victims, has called on Health Minister Gordon Nuttall to fast-track compensation.

Partner Ian Brown has asked for all claims to be quarantined from the provisions of the Civil Liability Act 2003.

“These laws specifically reduce responsibility for hospital negligence and have wiped out the court’s ability to award punitive damages to show the community’s abhorrence of outrageous conduct like that which has occurred here,” Mr Brown said.